By katef | Leave A Comment
If I had a dollar for each time someone asked me if my girls were identical or not… and if I had two dollars for each time someone argued with the answer I gave… I’d be a rich woman!
I have identical twin girls, and yes I am sure they are identical… and here’s how I know.
The Befores…
During the an early specialist scan a number of things were found to make us think our babies might be identical.
- They appeared to share a single placenta.
Of course you can’t be 100% sure there is only one placenta using ultrasound, but the technology is pretty good and they were confident there was only one placenta. Fraternal twins do not share a placenta. Some Identical twins share and some have separate placentas, but if there is one placenta the twins must be identical.
- They appeared to have one ‘outer sack’ with only a thin membrane separating them.
Fraternal twins always have separate chorions (outer membrane of the amniotic sack) and amnions (inner membrane). Some identical twins also have separate chorions and amnions, but some share an outer membrane with a thin inner membrane separating them (as in our case) and a small percentage share both outer and inner membranes (this causes an increased risk for both babies). If the babies share a chorion they must be identical.
The During…
- We had Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome.
Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) is a complication where the babies don’t share the placenta equally (more on that to come). It only occurs in identical twins who share a placenta.
The Afters…
- They look the same…
While I’ve always been able to tell them apart, from the very beginning they looked the same, even despite differences caused by the TTTS. As they’ve grown older they’ve gotten more alike, of course they are not totally identical… especially now Zoe has knocked her teeth out!
- They’ve had a DNA test that confirms it!
Of course the only way to know for sure is with DNA fingerprinting. As part of a research study we take part in, the girls were tested when they were babies. DNA samples are collected either from blood (usual a finger prick) or cheek cells and sent away to the lab… the results came back that our girls are 98% genetically identical.
But you know… without all the fancy testing and technical talk I think most parents of twins, triplets or more have a pretty good idea if their children are identical or fraternal. I see so many differences between my girls, but I also see how incredibly alike they are. I see how often even people who are close to us mix them up. Without any testing, if you feel that your children are identical… then they probably are.
Kate blogs about her definitely 100% for sure identical twins plus one more at picklebums.
(photo by Kate – Izzy and Zoe at 12 weeks old)
ABOUT katef
Kate is chief cook and clothes washer at the Pickle Farm in 'almost rural' Victoria, Australia, as w{read more}
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I have boy/girl twins who are now 10 years old. I can’t tell you how many people asked me if they were identical when they were infants. They looked nothing alike, one was a boy and one was a girl, one dressed in pink and one in blue.
Okay I think this confirms it for me. The birthmom was pregnant with 3 seperate babies and just because my boys look similiar does NOT mean they are identical. I do believe I remember hearing the doctor call them surprise faternal triplets and that is what I tell people when they ask me. I would also be a rich woman if I had a dollar everytime I heard “Are your boys identical?” and for every person who argued with me when I answered them. LOL What about size and weight? Are identical twins the same size in height and weight or can they vary? My boys have different body shapes. One looks like a linebacker and one looks like a skinny baseball player. LOL
Karen – my identical twins are not exactly the same height and weight but they are pretty close – within a kg in weight and only a cms difference in height – despite being very different weights at birth because of TTTS. But I think body shape is probably the clincher… different builds to me would be a sign that they were not identical…. and if you think they are fraternal then that is what they are if you ask me
Tammy – I always got the giggles when a friend with boy/girl frat twins was asked if they were identical! LOL
Hello
I have Identicle baby boys that had TTTS and all the same as you described above but theres just one thing….they don´t look that much alike
People are always (like in your case) asking if I´m sure if they are identicle and claim that identicle twins look the same. I think that the reason for the difference in looks is because of TTTS…it started when I was 20 weeks pregnant and I gave birth at 35 weeks so….